Vehicle-top bow-holder.



C. L- BAIR. VEHICLE TOP BOW HOLDER. APPLICATION rum) MAY 26, 1910.

Patented Nov, 28, 1911.

' NIT STATES PATENT onnron.

CLARENCE L. BLAIR, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOSPECIALTIES mnnurao rumne COMPANY, A

VEHICLE-TOP CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

BOW-HOLDER.

Application filed May 26,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

1910. Serial No. 563,480.

To all whom "it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. BAIR, a"

citizen of the United States, residing at the I when folded back areseparated and inde- -.bows of the Vehicle-top.

pendently supported in sockets'formed between two relatively movablemembers, said class being typified by that holder shown in LettersPatent of the United States No. 866,416, granted. to me Sept. 17, 1907.

' My present invention consists in certain improvements which areespecially applicable to a holder of this type; which improvements havefor their general. objects increased efliciency in the use of thedevice, and maximum strength with minimum weight consistent with thecost of materials employed in its construction. How these objects areattained, together with the details of the several improvements willhereinafter fully' appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings- .Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the holder-showing it-open, ready to receive the Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the holder showing it closed on the bows, the latter beingin cross section, and the movable arm being shown in partial verticalsection in order to show the engage ment of the knobs in the bows withthe socket seats in the arm. The knobs in this figure arenon-adjustable. .Fig. 3 is a brokenv sectional view of the holdershowing a form. of knob engagement in which the knob is an adjustableone, being screwed into a suitable socket in the bow. Fig.4 is a similarbroken section to show a form of knob-engagement in which the knobis,adjustable being screwed through and carried by the arm and adaptedto seat in a socket in the bow. Fig. 5 is a similar broken section toshow the" "adjustableknob of Fig. 4, but which in this case engages thebow through the intervention of a socketed protecting band carried bysaid bow.' Fig. 6 is a broken sectional View showing a form ofengagement in which projections on the movable arm areadapted toenter aprotecting pocketseated in the bow. Fig. 7 is a tops of buggies, saidholder having a relatively extensive rest or'support for the bot tombow, and a securing lug below said support.

Referring to Fig.1, the numeral 1 indi- This stock,

catesthe stock of the holder. for the sake of lightness and strength, isbest made of a three-quarter tubular section. At' its top, on its innerface, it is inclined or sloped back as shown at 2, in'order tofacilitate the entrance of the bows and permit them to pass withoutdamage. The top of the stock is grooved out at 3 to form a seatfor thepoint .of the movablearm, and also to form ears 4, in which the ends ofthe connecting link are pivotally seated. The stock at its lower end isfashioned to a knuckle 5 to receive on each side the ears of the knuckleof the movable arm; and, finally, said stock, about the middle is formedwith the securing lug 6, which has I v View of the holder as adapted.for the lighter a vertical hole 7 through it and also a horizontal hole8, in order to fit it to either a vertical or a horizontal fasteningiron extending from the vehicle body. A set screw 9 in the end of thelug is used to .fasten it on said iron. .10 is the movable arm. It ishinged at its lower end by a forked knuckle 11 totheknuckle 5 of thestock 1,

the sides ofthe knuckle 11 lying outside the v knuckle 5 and so recessedthereon asto be substantially flush with the stock thus forming a neathinge joint, and providing if required for a limited movement of thehinge by properly shaping the engaging surfaces.

The arm 10 is formed with a series of fins gers or bow-lifts12,projecting toward the stock and making a "series of bow receiving and-separator sockets 13.. The iimer ends of the bow-lifts are well roundedas shown, to avoid any possible injury. to the bows, when passingbetween them; .The upper end'of the arm has ashonldered point 14,

and a thumb piece 15, serving. the. -,doubl e' purpose of, a lockingcontact lug and a convenient means for swinging'the arm-v open. The armis also formed, for the sake, of strength, with a back rib 16. 17 is thelocking lever, formed with a locking lug,,l8 at right angles.This-lever, is pivoted/at its angle, to the connecting link 19 which is.

best formedbf a .springy nature. The other end of the-link' '19. ispivotally connected .11 0

'thaears a theatopiof thest'ock '1. i

' Referring now-fto 2, it will be" seen that the arm; has been closed,so that its separator sockets 13, inconjunction with the opposing stock,encircle-the bows 20, In thls closed position the top point 14 of thearm 10 is seated in and shouldered against;

the'top groove 3 of the stock, and said arm is locked in this closedposition by the con- "tact', under pressure, of the locking lug 18 bylifting This connection may assume various-forms,-

. shown in Fig. 2

a pin 21 driven into the bows.

" I 1', ,face of the bow and finds a; seat in a com i" In order ,todetermine the precise Facelat tion as an adjustable one,

of lever 17 with the back of the thumb piece 15. The unlocking of'thearm 10 is eflected 17 to relieve the contact of said parts. Heretoforeit has been deemed sufiicient to sun- I embrace the bows by thesepar'ator'sockets and hold them with more or less pressure in saidsockets and against the stock; and to protect the bows from friction bya band such as P show in my former patent, or to line the sockets withsome cushion material. My present 'mvention, however, contemplates andembraces a more direct and positive connection between the movable" armand the bows, which connection will have the 'efiect of positivelysteadying them, and prevent their tendency to'vibrate, and will, inefie'ct, hold them practicall out of direct contact with the fingers orli ts of the arm.

several of which'I herein show. The form consists of a knob-headed 7 Theknobead 22 of this pin projects from the surplemental socket 23 formedin the arm 10.

to be driveninto e bow,

which the pin-is left in the arm- 'lQleading a s'mallhole 24 is to thesocket 23; through which an awl may .be passed to mark the I lace on thebow for the pin. .In Fig. 3, I i

pin 24', having I egy atedrelatively to its'seat in thesocket,

. 230i the arm 10. s 7

formt knob engages a socket 28 in For the tops, of lighter. vehiclessuch a protecting band 'bow.

.In Fi In Fig. 4, I. h'oyv another arrangement of. 'ad'ustableknob-engagement.- .In this which isscrewed into the arm 10, and saidthe'bow V In Fig. 5, I show the knob-head 26 of the screw 27 of Fig. 4,engaging a socket-'29 in 30 which 1s carried by the innedin the bow,adapted to receive :pro-

ections 32 formed on the arm 10. v

' :arelatively long extension rest 33 which willtserve as a'isupportior'the. bottom bow; andQiihdeIf-thiS. formed the securing,

and upward'swinging of the lever rator sockets tiofi'at one feud betweenthe stock and arm;

e knob head 26 has a screw-shank 27. f

- and each of said bows,

g, I'show-a pocket 31- as buggies, Ifform the ba se of the stockl withlug 3 1, the aperture which be made I circular or square to receivetheprOP-irOn,

according, to its shape, of said vehicle. p Having thus described myinvention,.what

I cl'aim'as neWZand desire to secure by Letters'Patent I ,1'. Avehicletop bow stock having its upperv end grooved to form Ui side ears, an arm hinged to thelower end of said stock and i'formed with aseries of li fts cooperatingwith the stock t separator, sockets for thebows, said arm having at its upper end ashoulderadapted to. abut theside ears of the stock when the arm is closed and a projection extendingfrom said shoulder and arranged to' project holder"comprising a i 0provide between said .ears 0f thestock, a contact f piece on said arm inrear of said shoulder,a locking lever having a contact lug to lockbehind'the contact piece of the arm, and a spring link having its endsivotally connected to the'upper portion 0 said arm and 'tosaid-lockinglever. Y

2. A vehicle-top bow-holder comprising a stock; 'an arm formed with aseries of bowlifts coacting with the stock to provide separatorsocketsfor thebows; a hinge connection at one end between'the stock andarm;

means for releasably locln'ng themtogetherat the other end; andinterengaging instrumentalitiesto positively connect the arm I the armfrom the bows. I

3. A vehicle-toprbow-holdercomprising a stock; an arm formed with aseries of bowlifts coactin with the stock to provide sepafor thebows;-'a hinge connec'-.

rator socke tion at one end between the stock and arm; means forreleasably locking th em together at the other end; and relativelyadjustable interengaging instrumentalities to positively and bows,releasable by the separation of onnect the arm and each of said bows,re-

'leasable by the separation of the arm from the bows. 7

stock; an arm lifts: coa'cting I j 4, 5A; vehicle-top-bow-holdercomprising a formed with a series of.bowwith the stock to provide sepafor the bows; a hinge connecmeans for releasably locking them togethenjat the other end; and interengaging instrumentalities to positivelyconnect the arm releasable by the separation of the arm from the bows,said instrumentalitiesconsisting: of 'proj ec tions 'on'-one partseating in asocket in the other. 5. A vehicle-top bow-holder comprisinga I rator sockets for the'bows; a-'-hin'ge .connecstock; an arm formedwith a. series of bqwlifts coacting with thestock to provide sepa-' tionat one end between the stock and arm;

means for. releasably-lockingthem together atthe other end; andadjustable interengaging'instnumentalities lac-positively cont earmmid-each or said bows,-r'eleas- 'bows, said instrumentalitiesconsisting of projections on'one part seating in a socket in the other.

6. A vehicle-top bow-holder comprising a stock; an arm formed with aseries of bowlifts coacting With the stock to provide separator socketsfor the bows; a hinge connection at one end between the stock and arm;means for releasably locking them together at the other end; andinterengaging instrumentalities to positively connect the arm and eachof said bows, releasable by the separation of the arm from the bows,said instrumentalitiesconsisting of knobs on one part seating incomplemental sockets in the other part. b 7. A vehicle-top bow-holdercomprising a stock; an arm formed with a series of bowlifts coactingwith the stock to provide separator sockets for the bows; a hingeconnection at one end between the stock and arm; means for releasablylocking them together at the other end; and interengaginginstrumentalities to positively connect the arm and each of said bows,releasable by the separation of the arm from the bows, saidinstrumentalities consisting of knobs on one part seating incomplemental sockets in the other part, said knobs being adjustablymounted.

8. A vehicle-top bow-holder comprising a stock; an arm formed with aseries of howlifts coacting with the stock to provide separator socketsfor the bows; a hinge connection at one end between the stock and arm;means for releasably locking them together at the other end; andinterengaging instrumentalities to positively connect the arm and eachof said bows, releasable by the separation of the arm from the bows,said instrumentalities consisting of knobs on the arm, and protectingbands on the bows pro- -Copies of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. p

